Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Axed banks issue raised in Welsh Assembly

Members
of the Welsh Assembly are to be updated on the closure of three HSBC bank
branches, including the one in Llangollen, according to a Cabinet Minister.

In
the Senedd, North Wales Conservative AM Mark Isherwood called for a
government statement on the issue, which has sparked anger in the town and will
be the subject of a demonstration outside the Bridge Street bank tomorrow
(Thursday) at 12 noon.

Addressing Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Local
Government and Government Business and AM for Wrexham, he said: "I wish to
raise a matter that I know that you, personally, will be concerned about,
namely the announcement by HSBC that it is closing its Llangollen, Conwy and
Beaumaris branches.

"What engagement is the Welsh Government
having, could have, or will have, with the bank regarding this?

"Widespread concerns have been raised by
constituents, business constituents and individual customers regarding the
impact this will have on those areas, on themselves, the wellbeing of the
businesses in their towns, on their communities, but also on the many thousands
of tourists who visit the area.

"They are afraid that rural areas are taking
the brunt, that this is not in the interest of customers and that it is a
short-sighted business decision. They believe that we need to take a longer
term, truly customer-focused approach."

Ms
Griffiths replied: "In relation to your
concerns about the closure of HSBC branches - and you referred to Llangollen in
my colleague Ken Skates’s constituency - the Minister for Economy, Science and
Transport has discussions with all banks and will update the Assembly in due
course."